THE DUCHESS of Sussex believed royal aides were sharing negative stories in the media about her during her time at Kensington Palace.
In the latest row between Meghan Markle and Buckingham Palace, the former actress turned duchess is said to have blamed Kate Middleton, Prince Charles and Camilla’s aides for leaking stories about her.
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Meghan, 39, has long believed that Palace aides and even members of the royal family have been briefing the press on negative stories about her, a source told The Times.
She and husband Prince Harry believed incorrectly that the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales’s household were briefing against them, the source added.
Negative press included the shocking story of how the Duchess of Cambridge was said to have been left in tears following a fitting for the bridesmaids’ dresses before Meghan and Prince Harry’s wedding in 2018.
Another was an incident involving the tiara she was wearing for the wedding, in which Harry was reported to have shouted at the Queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly.
Her accusation about The Firm “perpetuating falsehoods” made to Oprah Winfrey and revealed in a clip trailing the Sussexes explosive interview on Sunday echoes a statement in a letter to The Times from her lawyers.
They said that the newspaper was “being used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative” ahead of the interview.
The claim has been strongly denied by a Buckingham Palace source who said they were “deeply upset” by it.
The source said: “It is absolutely untrue that the Palace has been peddling disinformation or conducting any kind of campaign ahead of the interview. The Palace has not got involved. It has clearly not been coming from us.”
The source added: “They assumed that the men in grey suits were obsessed with destroying them.”
In the 30-second clip released ahead of Sunday’s interview with Oprah, which will air at 8pm US time, the talk show host asks the duchess: “How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?”
Pregnant Meghan replies: “I don’t know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that the Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.”
“And, if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I … there is a lot that has been lost already.”
Meghan’s pal Janina Gavankar has come out in support of her long-time friend, rebutting claims she is a ‘bully’.
“I have known Meghan for 17 years. Here’s what she is: kind, strong, open. Here’s what she’s not: “a bully”,” she wrote on Twitter.
“ANY of us who know her, feel the same thing from her broken silence: Relief.
“The truth shall set you free.”
The ongoing row between the Sussexes and the palace has escalated this week, as revelations emerged of bullying accusations made against Meghan by former royal aides.
She is facing allegations of bullying staff made by one of her closest advisers during her time at Kensington Palace.
A source told The Times newspaper the Duchess of Sussex drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third.
It is claimed allegations of bullying at the palace were submitted by Jason Knauf in October 2018 who was the couple’s communications secretary at the time.
At least 10 former aides are now “queuing up” to share their experiences of working for Meghan after being promised complete confidentiality by the palace.
Sources connected to the group of aides said they were all considered to be “hugely professional and proud of their efforts” while working at Kensington Palace.
One said: “A group of people are queuing up to be involved. They have been silent for too long and there is much to talk about.”
Despite the increasing tensions, tonight senior members of the Royal Family united in a show of strength behind the Queen.
Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate would be joining the 94-year-old monarch in a TV address to the Commonwealth praising “the family of nations”.
The announcement came after news that Prince Philip had successfully undergone surgery in hospital, which sources said may have been to have a second stent fitted.
The Commonwealth celebration will take place just hours before Harry and Meghan’s US interview is due to be screened.
